CNPC: When Debate Turns into a Dance-Off Disaster

The recent CNPC MUN session was less about serious debate and more about reality show-level chaos. Instead of thoughtful discussion, delegates tossed basic manners in the thrash and apparently kicked the chairs right along with it. One of the delegate actually shouted “Shut the hell up” at the chair, earning the chair a well deserved 10 minute timeout, because the delegate must have thought “Why not misbehave with the chairs”?

And if that was not enough, the session featured an unexpected dance break. Yes, dancing in the middle of what is suppose to be a formal debate. The sight was so ridiculous, it demands to be seen to be believed. The scene was so absurd and it seemed as if someone had hit pause button to formality fan diplomacy and hit play button on informality and on a dance party.

When pressed on the issues at hand, the best response anyone could answer was a causal “My bad”. Accountability? Forget it. Clueless silence and zero engagement mostly dominated the room except for a few handful of delegates, turning what should have been a serious forum into a spectacle of ignorance.

Is this the level of professionalism we except at MUN? Absolutely not. CNPC’s latest session was an example as to how not to conduct international diplomacy. Organizers now face the daunting task of teaching the delegates basic behavior as they seem more interested in making a scene. CNPC's committee sessions are a harsh reminder that the only thing that is more entertaining that the discussion is the disaster surrounding it.

Chase DiAngelo

CNN